The Aral Sea Encyclopedia - D pps

D Dambal Island* – located near the eastern coast of the Aral, 15 km to the south of the Kokarev Cape, concealing Karatma Bay (see) to the west. A wide strait formed between Biiktau (see) and D. Islands leading to Karatma Bay. The island is low, in some places inundated with water. Darya, Derya – a big full-flowing river, sea (Persian). Great rivers and some- times bays – Syrdarya, Karadarya, Amudarya and others – are referred to in this way in Central Asia. Daryalyk, Kunyadarya – one of the western dried riverbeds that is clearly seen and traced along the whole Amudarya delta. The D. riverbed is more recent, and has a definite form of a meandering hollow that cuts into the Sarykamysh depression like a canyon up to 50 m deep through which the Amudarya waters flowed. In 1878, the waters broke through for the last time, resulting in the formation of a lake 8 m deep. Dashoguzsky Velajat (former Tashauz Region) – oneof 5vilajatsin Turkmenistan that was renamed in 1999. Belongs to the zone of the Aral ecological crisis or Turkmen Circum-Aral area (see). Located in the north of the country. On the north, north-west, and north-east, it borders on the Republic of Uzbekistan; on the west, it borders Balkansky vilajat, on the south it borders Akhalsky vilajat, and on the east it borders Lebansky vilajat. Its area is 73.43 thou sq. km, and has a population of 1196.7 thou people (2002). The center of D.V. is Dashoguz (former Tashauz). Practically the whole territory of the vilajat is covered by the Karakum Desert. In the north-west, the greatest part of Sarykamysh Lake is located. The Amudarya River flows along its eastern border. Being not far from A.S., this vilajat has experienced all of the consequences of the sea’s drying. The greater part of its population is Uzbek. The climate here is sharply continental and arid. Annual precipitations is less than 100 mm. The average annual temperature varies from 11 8 Cto13 8 C. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of –6 8 C (the absolute minimum is –36 8 C), and the hottest is July with an average temperature ranging from 27 8 Cto32 8 C. I.S. Zonn et al., The Aral Sea Encyclopedia, DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-85088-5_5, Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009 79 The share of D.V. in the country’s indust rial product is not so large as yet and by many per capita indices is lower than the country’s average. Its specific weight in the total industrial production of the country is 9.2% (2000). The area of irrigated and drained lands is 2711.5 thou ha, including priority development lands on 1300 thou ha. The key branch is distant grazing animal husbandry (73 thou sq. km). Farming is practiced here on 100% irrigated lands. The main crops are cotton and grains. The source of irrigation water is the Amudarya. In low-flow periods, the shortage of irrigation water is felt. Some etraps (districts) of D.V. suffer from a deficit of drinking water of good quality. This is due to high pollution of surface waters, transboundary transfer of collector-drainage waters (see) from Uzbekistan, and the narrowness of fresh groundwater lenses under the channel. Degradation of lands – reduction or loss of biological and economic productiv- ity and a complex structure of rainfed arable lands; irrigated arable lands or pastures; forests and forested areas in arid, semiarid, and dry humid regions as a result of land use or the action of one or several processes, including those related to human activities, such as: (1) wind and/or water soil erosion; (2) deterioration of physical, chemical and biological or economic soil properties; (3) loss of the natural vegetation cover for a long period. The three principal factors leadin g to degradation of soils in arid areas are overgrazing (34.5%), deforestation (29.5%), and existing agricultural practices (28.1%). Deigish, Degish (Turkmenian) – descructive scouring by a river of low loose banks causing avalanches, partial collapse of bank deposits, and displacement. This is especially true of the Amudarya (see) in its lower and middle reaches. In this way in 1949 the city of Turtkul (the former capital of Karakalpakia ) was destroyed and the capital was moved to Nukus. The main causes of D. are occurrences of easily scoured alluvial soils in the banks, a high flow rate in a river, and great fluctuations of water discharges. During many years, the riverbed has altered significantly; since 1943, bank displacement was as large as 2.5–4.0 km. The D. phenomena affects mostly the stretch from Tashsak to Djumurtau and banks here must be kept under constant surveillance to prevent likely scouring. In the coastal strip and the likely zone of river meandering, the settlements, quays, and water intakes of canals are found. The coastline may be stabilized with the help of structures made of strong and reliable modern materials. Bank fixation works should be carried out along the whole stretch of a scoured bank. Delta of the Amudarya* – located to the north of the line connecting the Takhiatash Cape and the eastern tip of an offspur of the Ustyurt Plateau (north- ward of the Buten-Tau upland). The Near-Sarykamysh delta (see) is located to the south of this line. The western border runs along the eastern chink of the Ustyurt as far as the Aral, while the eastern border runs along the right bank of the Kuanishdjarma. Within the aforementioned limits, D.A. area is equal to 80 D Degradation of lands 19 thou sq. km. It represents a monotonously flat plain composed of intercalat- ing sands, sandy loams, loams, and clays. It extends for 360 km to A.S. One side of this plain smoothly lowers down to the north to A.S., while the other extends to the Sarykamysh depression (see). Against this generally flat relief are several prominent residual uplands, including Kubetau, Djumurtau, Kulaknatau, Beltau (see) and others. Their relative elevation over the delta plain is 60 to 80 m. Water abundance, rich vegetation, and A.S. proximity influence the climate of D.A. The sums of negative temperatures in the wintertime vary from –3008Cto –5008C in the north. Winter lasts here for 3 months. The absolute maximum of temperatures over the greater part of the territory is 41 to 438C. The s u ms of positive temperatures over 10 8 Cmake3800 8 in the north of the delta and 4250 8 in the south. Annual precipitations here range from 80 to 110 mm; summer precipita- tion composes 10–1 5% o f t h e an nual a mount. In D.A., draughts and dry winds are observed quite seldom, which may be attributed to good air moistening due to evaporation from the surface of the river and its tributaries as well as rich vegetation. Modern D.A. covers nearly the whole southern coast of A.S. in its former borders (up to 53 m abs.). Until recently, it was second only to the Volga delta by its size, productivity, and biodiversity. In the course of its development, D.A. constantly migrated following the buildup of alluvial deposits and the changing direction of the main river bed. The most recent Amudarya deltas were formed in the Paleozoic depress ion more than 140 m deep, the northern part of which is occupied by A.S. During the Quaternary period, three deltas were formed here – Sarykamysh (see), Akchadarya (see), and the modern Circum-Aral. In the period of A.S. stability, D.A. expanded mainly due to sediments forming a protrusion delta. The average annual delta increment was 13 sq. km. In the period of sea level drop, the delta grew, largely due to extension of the dried sea bottom. In the last 35 years, the delta area has increased from 14 to 21 thou sq. km. The relief and modern structure of the D.A. landscape was formed under the influence of geology, hydrological regimes, climatic conditions, and anthropogenic factors. In the period of the ordinary delta regime, the average annual input of suspended matter into the delta was 3–4 tons a second. And during a year the sediment layer in the floodplain increased by 7 mm. The deposition intensity in the regions of highest active accumulation was as high as 1 mm/day during a flood period. As a result of the annual cycle of self-leveling, a hydrographic network of the delta composed of fine-grained sands was formed. Natural levees along the riverbed were characterized by interbedding deposits represented in the foot by thick horizons of fine-grained sands and loamy sands overlain with loamy sandy and loamy horizons. The near-bed floodplains were co mposed mainly of alternating loamy sands and loams. Internal floodplains were formed in the lowest parts of the delta. They were mostly occupied by marshes and lakes. At present, many lakes and marshes have dried out and salinizat ion and takyr- formation processes are observable. Delta of the Amudarya D 81 At present, many d ifferent landscapes may be fou nd in the delta; th ey were shaped due to different combinations of mois tening, salinity, and soil composition. The near-mouth terrain and water-filled arms of the Amudarya are covered by special types of vegetation communities: tugai forests (see); tamarisk communities (found on dried riverbeds); and delta depressions moistened by collector-drainage waters which are overgrown with reeds. In the upper part of the delta, oases of cotton, corn, white durra, alfalfa, melon crops are cultivated under irrigation. Most marshlands are used for rice growing. In the pre-mouth area and in the dried bottom of A.S., solonchaks and saline sands prevail. This territory is characterized by low productivity with thinned communities of annual thistle. With further drying out of A.S., this type of landscape moves more and more to the north. In water abundan t years, after the periodic flooding of these territories, the vegetation productivity here increases significantly. In the south of the dried sea bottom, the areas of artificially watered irrigation and disposal lakes gradual expand. The delta starts below Takhiatash and represents a slightly inclined plain. The first right delta channel going out from the Amudarya is Yerkendarya. The Raushan channel originates nine kilometers downstream; in 1943 it was dammed. The water is supplied here by floating pumping stations (discharge is up to 100 cu.m/s). Downstream, at the head of the Raushan channel, the Amudaria is divided into two branches that form an island. Near the northern edge of the Kyzyldjar upland the Priemuzyak channel branches off westwards from the Amudarya. Downstream of this place, the river bed breaks into two channels: Kipchakdarya (see)(left)andAkdarya (see) (right). At a distance of 20 km from A.S., these channels join together forming a single bed, Inzheneruzyak, that at a distance of 3 km from the sea is b roken into mouth arms. Large channels, such as Taldyk, Kipchakdarya, Akdarya, and others flowed over the delta. Until recently, it had many small lakes, marshes, hydrophilic vegetation, and mostly reed s. Tugai thickets extended along the channels. Now everything is dried out, and the delta surface is barren. Only those l akes have survived that received collector and drainage waters from irrigated fields. Here, residual hills composed of parent rocks, the largest o f them being Kyzyldjar, with its relative height of 50 m, are found. Delta of the Syrdarya* – a plain slightly inclined towards A.S., low-elevated, alluvial, having a triangle shape with the apex to the east of Kazalinsk City (see). At the head of the delta, its uplifted part is 65–67 m high, while the peripheral parts are lower than 53 m. In the middle of the delta, the Syrdarya River flows, the width of the delta plain on the right bank of the river varying from 10 to 70 km and on the left bank from 5 to 50 km. The total delta area was approximately 7,000 sq. km. In spite of the ideally flat relief of the delta, it has many channels and arms, near-bed levees, and inter-bed lowerings. The river floodplain is not well visible: in some places it can be traced as a narrow strip up to several dozen meters wide, while during spring floods it is covered with water 82 D Delta of the Syrdarya and disappears completely. The live (Aksai) and dead (Karauzayk, Karaaryk, Keigushken, Birkazan, Sarykol, and others) arms branch off from the right and left banks of the Syrdarya . Some of the arms are used as irrigation canals, while others are used as disposal headers. Along the riverbed, narrow, elevated levees with gently-rolling microrelief are clearly visible in the delta head where they rise by 2–3 m over the peripheral plain. Their width here reaches 2.5–3.0 km. The closer the sea is the lower the levees, and consequently, the narrower is their width. In the delta head in many places with lower elevations of near-channel levees, earth dams are constructed to protect the nearby territor ies from flood- ing. The near-bed levees are usually composed of loamy sands and sands whose layers may be as thick as 4 m. The inter-bed dep ressions occurring between the channels are places where flood waters accumulate and this facilitates forma- tion of lake-marshy complexes here. The Syrdarya lower reaches confined to the desert zone are characterized by a sharply continental climate. In winter, the temperatures vary from –10.7 8 C (in January at the Karak station) to –13.4 8 C (at the Aral Sea station); in summer, temperatures range from +27.6 8 C to +26.1 8 C, respectively, in July. The abso- lute maximum of tempe rature is observed in July (43–46 8 C); the absolute minimum is registered in January (–38 8 C to –42 8 C); the average annual tem- perature varies from 7.0 8 C to 8.8 8 C. The cold period with average daily air temperatures below 0 8 C lasts for 120–130 days, while the non-frost period lasts for 170–180 days. The average annual precipitations range from 104 to 132 mm. The prevailing wind direction during the year is northeastern. The wind velocity tends to increase in the northwestern direction (i.e. towards A.S). The average annual wind velocity over much of the territory is 3 to 5 m/s, and the number of days with strong winds (15 m/s) varies from 8 to 22. The average annual water flow in the river on the line of Kazalinks City (1912–1966) was 476 cu.m/s (with the extreme values being 378–670 cu.m/s). The average many-year maximum flows were as high as 865 cu.m/s. The delta zone abounds in lakes. In terms of origin of their depressions, shape, and water composition, they form 5 groups. The first group includes oxbow lakes having a sickle form. They were usually found within the near-bed levees and represented sites separated from the main riverbed or arm. The depth of these lakes usually varied from 2 to 3 m, while their width were up to 200–300 m, and their length was up to several kilometers. The lakes contained fresh waters that were replenished during floods on the Syrdarya. The second group includes lakes of inter-bed depressions, the so-called floodplain lakes. They were distinguished by their greater size, often reaching several kilometers in their cross-section. They were characterized by vague, uncertain outlines, marshy banks, small depths – only up to 2 m. Such lakes were inundated with freshwaters during floods on the Syrdarya, but by autumn, many of them would dry out completely. These lakes appeared when deflated depressions formed within spot sand terrains and filled with water. They were filled with ground waters backed up due to hydraulic head from the flooded areas. The third group includes lakes with brakish waters that Delta of the Syrdarya D 83 were cut off from sea lagoons. The largest of these groups were Kamyshli-Bash, Chumyshli-Kul, Rimsky, and others. They are dammed lakes. D.S. is composed of the following soil types: meadow (deltaic), marshy (deltaic), solonchaks, takyr-like, and others. These soils contained small humus reserves in the upper horizons (1–2%) and within a 50 cm-layer (57–106 t/ha), and no progressive buildup of salts was observed in them. The vegetation cover in the delta was formed due to the influence of such factors as relief, soils, their salinity and moistening, ground waters, depth of their occurrence and salinity, human direct and indirect impacts, and others. The near-bed levees of the Syrdarya and its live tributaries were overgrown with tugai forests extending in strips up to 1–3 m wide along the riverbed. Among the named trees were oleaster, poplars, willow as well as the thickets of salt trees and tamarisk. The inter-channel depressions that are filled with water during floods are covered with reed thickets, and on the lake shores cattails are growing. The near-channel levees are usually covered with weed vegetation. Scarce halophyte thickets are foun d on saline soils and solonchaks. Regulation of the Syrdarya flow, drastic reduction of the Aral water area; resultant climate changes in the region, making it more arid and continental; growing salinity of irrigation water; deposition of salts drifted from the exposed A.S. bed; and deficit of irrigation water led to the drying out of the Syrdarya delta. Department of the Amudarya Irrigation Canals (DAIC) – one of the oldest regional water management organizations. In 1927, on the basis of the parity commission located in Tashkent, there was established the Department of the Amudarya Delta Irrigation Systems (DADIS) in Novo-Urgench. This organi- zation was assigned to construct, rehabilitate, and refurbish irrigation and drainage systems, as well as to establish an equitable inter-republic division of water. With the extension of cultivated areas, irrigation and drainage systems were developed, increasing the ac tivity of DADIS. The irrigation canals were linked. After the separation of the water management organizations of Khor- ezm and Tashauz from DADIS, the latter received a new name, the Department of the Amudarya Irrigation Canals (DAIC). For satisfaction of the needs of water users, DAIC operated 350 km of interstate irrigation canals, 60 major hydropower plants, and 110 gauging stations. When the Amudarya water resources could no longer fully cover the ne eds of water users, a very difficult water situation was witnessed even in years of average water availability. The problem with water supply was aggravated by the absence of a single water management body. Pursuant to the decisions of the October (1985) Plenum of the CPSU Central Committee, in 1987 the basin water mana gement associations (BVO) ‘‘ Amudarya’’ (see) and ‘‘Syrdarya’’ (see) were established und er the system of t he USSR Min istry of Water Management. Their tasks included the apportioning of water resources among the republics and operation of water intakes and hy draulic structu res. They were located in Urgench and Tashkent. Later on within their framework, the 84 D Department of the Amudarya Irrigation Canals (DAIC) Kurgan-Tyube, Chardjou, Urgench (DA IC), Nukus (BVO ‘‘Amudarya’’) and Gulistan, Uchkurgan, Char dara, and Chirchik (BVO ‘‘Syrdarya’’) Territorial Production Departments were formed. They engaged in the regulation of water resources and the operation of water intake structures. Today, DAIC has undertaken operation of 11 river water intakes, 52 hydraulic structures on main canals; maintains and operates 386 km of main canals; and controls water intakes on the river stretch from the Tuyamuyun hydraulic unit to the Kipchak gauging station, a river stretch of 167 km. Three large irrigation systems – Tashsakinsky, Klychniyazbaisky and Kipcha-Boz- suisky – are subordinated to DAIC. Desertification assessment and mapping in the Aral region – the section in the World Atlas of Desertification – II (second edition, 1997). Prepared by Doctor of Biology G.S. Koust (MSU). It contains descriptions of desertification in the Southern and Eastern Aral Region, including cartographic materials illustrating such desertification parameters as causes, vectors, risks, degrees, rates, and depths. Among the maps are basic ones illustrating the prevailing causes and vectors of desertification and supplements showing the areas affected by various directions and impacts of desertification. The studied region covered 127 thou sq. km, and the mapping base contained 1500 contours identified by the results of analysis and interpretation of satellite images for the period from 1975 to 1989. Desertification control and Sanation of Solonchak deserts in the Aral Sea region – BMBF-GTZ/CCD Project (Germany). Experiments on the development of new methods for saline soils of heavy lithology were conducted from 1998 to 2000 within the framework of BMBF Project 10 km to the southwest of the Syrdarya mouth by the Aral Institute of Agroecology and Agriculture (Kyzylorda). In 2002–2004, the experiments were continued. The representatives of the Bielefeld University (Germany) as well as Kazakh organizations: the Institute of Botanics and Phytointroduction (Almaty), the Aral Institute of Agroecology and Agricul- ture, the Scientific-Production Forestry Center (Kokshetau), and enterprises of ‘‘Syr-Tabigaty’’ (Kyzylorda) took part in this project. During two seasons (November 2002–March 2004), the following salt-resistant varieties of local flora were sown and planted: black saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum), tamarisk (Tamarix elogata, T.ramosissima, T.laxa, T.hispida)andHalocnemum strobila- ceum. Trial plots were established on soils of different mechanical composition and salinity level on the eastern shore of A.S. in the Kozzhetpes natural area within the sea belt dried in the 1970s. The plantings were made both with a tree- planting machine (252 ha) and manually (9.5 ha). The experimental results were used for preparation and publication of the ‘‘Recommendations on assortment and technology of cultivation of halophytes: shrubs and trees on the dried out Aral Sea bottom’’ (2003). Desertification map of the southern and eastern circum-Aral area – prepared by G.S. Koust in 1993 at a scale of 1:500,000 within the framework of the UNEP/ USSR Project, ‘‘Assessment of Desertification in the Southern and Eastern Aral Desertification map of the southern and eastern circum-Aral area D 85 Area.’’ The map shows the causes of desertification, main trends in desertifica- tion development, and their manifestations. The map was used as a basis for preparation of the comprehensive ‘‘Desertification Atlas of the Southern and Eastern Circum-Aral Area’’ (see). Desertification map of the southern circum-Aral area – prepared in 1988 at scale 1:200,000 by the Geography Department of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences under editorship of A.A. Rafikov. Much attention was paid to consideration of the desertification factors of both a natural and anthropogenic nature. An attempt was made to assess the relationship between natural and anthropogenic factors, providing particular examples when the development of anthropogeni c desertification is aggravated by natural factors. The map shows a classification of desertification causes and desertification types. In particular, desertification types identified are vegetation degradation, deflation, water erosion, soil sali- nization, technogenic causes, desertification related to the water level drop in A.S., desertification related to groundwater level lowering, and related soil salinization; also identified are causes of desertification, such as (a) undergraz- ing; (b) overgrazing; (c) cutting of trees and shrubs; (d) low efficiency of collector-drainage systems (KDS) and poor leaching of saline soils; (e) high occurrence of ground waters and low efficiency of the existing KDS; (f) hydro- morphic regimes of irrigation on the basis of well-developed drainage systems; (g) irregular motion of motor transport, crawler and wheel tractors and others, intensification of research, drilling, construction and other kinds of works; (h) drying and salinization of the beds of water bodies due to a water level drop in them; (i) degradation of the vegetation cover due to termination of regular water supply of the delta plains; (j) cultivation of steep slopes and inadequate erosion-control efforts; and (k) insufficient seepage-control measures. Desertification of the circum-Aral area – a comprehensive analysis of the envir- onmental situation in the region has shown that the key factors of desertifica- tion are human activities changing ecosystems on the A.S. dried territory, salinization and waterlogging of irrigated lands, cutting out of forests in the zones of the river flow formation and saxaul vegetation in deserts and semi- deserts, loss of vegetation cover of pasturelands due to overgrazing and trans- port denu dation, growing areas of solonchak deserts in drainless zones, and irrigation erosion of irrigated lands. Rough estimates have indicated that in the period 1960–1990, the area of natural deserts in Central Asia increased by more than 100 thou sq. km, or nearly 8%. Over 50% of irrigated lands were affected by salinization. In the lower reaches of the Amudarya and Syrdarya, where irrigation was mainly practiced, the land salinity varied from medium to strong, though in the recent 25 years it had doubled. Until the mid-20th century, the wet and dry periods had alternated, and as a result, due to riverbed erosion, one and another area of the delta was always either wet or dry. With the establishment of grand projects on irrigation devel- opment and desert conversi on, Central Asia moved to a new stage – sustained 86 D Desertification map of the southern circum-Aral area desertification in river deltas and further on in the Ci rcum-Aral area in general. Large headworks regulated the flow of the Amudarya and Syrdarya Rivers, disturbing its annual and seasonal dynamics. In conditions of extensive water consumption, the low efficiency of irrigated networks and wat er application practices led to the increase of irretrievable water losses. Beginning in the 1960s, cyclic climate aridization also affected river flows in Central Asia. As a result, in 1961 a permanent reduction of flow to A.S. was witnessed. In the 1950s, the first rough features of desertification onset and the further intensification of aridization in the eastern part of the Amudarya delta were observed. This development was connected with a sharp increase of water intake by the Karakum Canal, the appearance of large areas of newly irrigated lands, etc. At the same time, large floods and inundations ceased and many arms in the delta dried out. Also witnessed were the gradual decrease of evaporation from the delta surface, some drawdown of the groun dwater table, substitution in uplifted areas of the flushing water regim e of soils with the exudative regime, soil salinization, soil drying, and rough successions of hydrohalophytic and haloxerophytic vegetation. In the 1960s, the processes of overall aridization and continental desertifica- tion were developing in the delta. This was associated with a reduction of water inflow into the delta and a dropping of the Aral Sea level. In this period, the drying of many secondary river arms, drawdown of the groundwater table, and a growth in groundwater salinity were observed. The zone of favorable climatic impact of the sea shifted following its regression into the newly-dried zone. Deeper spreading of aridization and drying of hydromorphic landscapes and mass successions of hydrohalophytes were witnessed in the central and western parts of the delta. The area of cane wetlands shrank drastically, replaced with tamarisk and thistle growths. The lowering of the base level of erosion spurred erosion processes in riverbeds, the prevailing exogenou s processes changing from waterlogging to deflation and salt accumulation. As a result, the zonal landscapes of sandy deserts with eolian reliefs began forming in the eastern part of the Amudarya delta. From the early 1970s, the aridization and transition of some landscapes to zonal (continental) desertification was observed. The ongoing reduction of water inflowing into the delta and general intensification of economic activities in the ‘‘live’’ delta of the Amudarya against the continuing climate aridization became typical events. Most intensively, the desert ification processes increased in 1974–1977 when excessive water intakes combined with a dry period and the insufficiency of water in rivers. In this period, ‘‘chemical’’ desertification started in the delta, connected with the growing salinity of the river water and the growing level of pesticides that drained into waterways with the runoff. The water level drop in the sea increased enormously, the area of the dried seabed widened, and the puffy solonchaks that lead to salt-dust storms formed. The hydrological role of rivers changed from feeding to draining, and nearly all channels and arms of the Amudarya dried out. Deltas and especially their Desertification of the circum-Aral area D 87 depressions accumul ated salts from the whole Aral basin. At the same time, a considerable amount of salts fell with atmospheric precipitations or drifted with wind (up to 1 t/ha a year). In the Syrdarya delta, the beginning and rate of desertification were somewhat different because the moist Syrdarya delta consisted of two isolated massifs; the desertification process did not affect them simultaneously. Already in the 1910s the lake-wetland landscapes of the Kyzyl-Orda part of the delta were first affected by drying associated largely with intensive agricultural development, land recla- mation development, and to a lesser extent with the reduction of the Syrdarya flow. Still earlier (in the late 19th century–early 20th century), the hydromorphic landscapes in the middle reaches of the Kuvandarya River were affected by desertification. In the lacustrine-wetland, depressions composed of meadow- bog soils formed sagebrush-thistle communities on the meadow-desert soils as well as paleohydromorphic relics like puffy solonchaks and black saxaul growths. In the Kyzyl-Orda delta and on the Kuvandarya plain, the desertification process went slowly. By the 1920s on the Kuvandarya plain, the zonal desert landscapes were formed. The Kyzyl-Orda delta (as well as the Khorezm ancient delta of the Amudarya) was used nearly all for irrigated farming. Complete drying of the lacustrine-wetland had occurred by 1950–1960. Simultaneously with the Amudarya ‘‘live’’ delta that had passed similar stages of desertif ication, the landscapes of the ‘‘live’’ Kazalinsky delta of the Syrdarya River were also transformed. In general, the desertification processes led to still more intensive changes of hydromorphic complexes in the Kaza- linsky delta compared to the Amudarya delta, which may be attributed, per- haps, to its lower watering. Desertification also affected the landscapes of sandy eolian plains in the Circum-Aral area, in particular in the east and southeast. Desertification pro- cesses were spurred here by a drop of groundwater level (in some places to 8–10 m), changes in the hydrostatic backup of the sea, climate alterations toward aridity, intensification of eolian processes, and anthropogenic activities (cattle grazing, etc.). Desertification of the southern circum-Aral area – a map at scale 1:200,000 prepared by the Department of Geography of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences. Its editor was A.A. Rafikov. Dictionary on desertification – prepared by Doctor of Geography I.S. Zonn. It was published in 1995 (1st edition) and in 1996 (2nd edition). It contains about 400 terms on arid and semiarid territories, their study, mapping, and ways of desertification control. It describes widely the role of UN organizations (UNEP, FAO, UNESCO, WMO and others) and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations in desert ification control. The dictionary has been translated into English, Japanese, and Chinese. Djalpakkair Strait* – located to the south of the Akpetki and Karabaili Islands. On the northwest it is covered by the Orussengir and Karashokhe Islands. 88 D Desertification of the southern circum-Aral area [...]...Dying and dead seas D Having a general eastern orientation, it extended for over 11 km The low-lying sandy islands Karashokhe, Shagyl, Annabai, Estai, Kuvat, Erdjan (see) are found to the west of the strait along the southeastern coast of the sea Djaltyrbas, Djiltyrbas, Djaltyr-Bas Bay – see Zhiltyrbas bay Djaksyklych Lake (Kazakh – Jaksykylysh) – located in the north of the CircumAral area,... tip of Kokaral Island (see) and the end of a low sandy bar overgrown with shrubs that stretches for 4 km northward of the northeastern shore of the Kokaral Island Dying and dead seas: climate versus anthropic causes (Edited by J.C.J Nihoul, P.O Zavialov, Ph.P Micklin NATO ARW/ASI Series, Kluwer Acad Publ., Dordrecht, 2004) – the proceedings of the colloquium with the same name that was held at Liege... salts is connected, on the one hand, with the evaporation of A.S waters that flow via a narrow strait during high water levels, and on the other, with ground waters that come to the surface not only in the periphery, but in the bottom of the lake basin The large Djaksyklych salt deposit is found here Djeikhun – an Arabic name of the Amudarya Djut (Mongolian) – lack of fodder for cattle due to coating... in 2003 within the framework of the 35th 89 90 D Dynamics of the Aral Sea from 1957 to 1989 with forecast till 2000 International Liege Colloquium on Ocean Dynamics under the auspices of the International Year of Fresh Water declared by UNESCO This collection contains 15 articles that consider the problems of A.S., Caspian Sea, Dead Sea, Chad Lake, Issyk-Kul Lake (Kyrghyz Republic), and Corangamite... km north-east of the city of Aralsk in Kazakhstan The absolute elevation of the lake bottom is +43 m, which is nearly 10 m lower than the maximum (+53 m) Aral level Terraces visible on its shores reflect the stages of periodical drying of the lake basin D. L may be divided into two large basins: Northern (17.6 sq km) and Southern (57.6 sq km) that are surrounded by numerous small saline lakes The origin... to the A.S basin in an attempt to find an answer to the question posed in the article title; and third, a discussion of ‘‘environmental fairness’’ issues that may be raised as a result of such status Dolgy Island* – covers Kishi-Karatyup Bay (see) on the north–west This island is low-lying and sandy, with small barkhans 2–3 m high Several small bays extend into its coast Domalak Cape* – the northern... in the A.S region Does the Aral Sea merit heritage status? – this article, written by Michael H Glantz and Robert M Figueroa, Philosophy Department of the University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, was published in December 1997 in the journal ‘‘Global Environmental Change.’’ The article was written for the occasion of the passing in 1972 by the UN of the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural... World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites in view of the need to acknowledge the global significance of protection of cultural and natural heritage According to the authors, A.S satisfies many criteria of this Convention as an object deserving such status This article pursued three purposes: first, to discuss the notion ‘‘heritage’’ and its applicability to the world heritage status; second, applicability... that consider the problems of A.S., Caspian Sea, Dead Sea, Chad Lake, Issyk-Kul Lake (Kyrghyz Republic), and Corangamite Lake (Australia) Dynamics of the Aral Sea from 1957 to 1989 with forecast till 2000 – a map at scale 1:1,000,000 prepared in 1990 by Z .D Tkacheva and V.M Sigalov in Moscow . pesticides that drained into waterways with the runoff. The water level drop in the sea increased enormously, the area of the dried seabed widened, and the puffy solonchaks that lead to salt-dust. mainly practiced, the land salinity varied from medium to strong, though in the recent 25 years it had doubled. Until the mid-20th century, the wet and dry periods had alternated, and as a result, due to. sustained 86 D Desertification map of the southern circum -Aral area desertification in river deltas and further on in the Ci rcum -Aral area in general. Large headworks regulated the flow of the Amudarya